Wilma's Tea Cosy: Valley Cottage's Ghanaian-Infused Take on Afternoon Tea

There is a certain kind of magic in a room built around a pot of tea. At Wilma's Tea Cosy in Valley Cottage, that magic comes with a twist you won't find at most tearooms in the Hudson Valley.

Akwaaba — welcome. Founder Wilma Glover-Koomson was born and raised in Ghana, a former British colony, and she designed the Tea Cosy around everything she knows and loves about tea: quaint, old-fashioned tea service, but with an ethnic flair all her own. She creates her own house blends from teas around the world, and she pairs them with a menu that moves between the classics and her roots.

On the classic side: sandwiches, savouries, scones, cakes, macaroons, biscuits, madeleines, specialty soups and salads. On the Ghanaian side: non-traditional appetizers drawn from West African cuisine — regulars talk about jollof rice and a rich peanut-butter-style soup among the savory highlights. It is a sit-down, waiter-served experience, not a grab-a-cup counter.

Once a month, the place goes bigger. On the last Sunday of every month, Wilma's hosts a monthly tea party with a buffet-style menu, plenty of teapots to go around, and the colorful, vibrant atmosphere Wilma is known for — ethnic fashion included. Doors are open late those Sundays.

It is a small room with a big heart, and diners have noticed: reviewers consistently praise the generous portions, the variety of teas, the real china, and the thoughtful service — leftovers wrapped with a ribbon, to-go cups offered for unfinished pots. If you have never been to an afternoon tea, this is about as welcoming a first one as Rockland offers.